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RIFFLE um will 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. F. GUEST RIFFLE Filed Aug. '7, -1956Jan. 18, 1938.

INVENTOR Jzn 177 Gues ATTORNEYS WITNESSES Patented Jan. 18, 1938 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE RIFFLE berg, New York, N. Y.

Application August 7, 1936, Serial No. 94,769

10 Claims.

This invention relates to mining equipment, and more particularly toequipment used in placer mining commonly known as rifiies orclassifiers.

An object of the invention is to provide a device which will moreefciently separate gold and other mineral bearing materials from thesand, gravel and similar substances in which they are found.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which iseconomical in construction, compact in structure and which is adaptedfor use with various types of gangue.

Various types of machinery and riflies have been used in the past in theplacer mining industry to separate the gold-bearing materials from thegravel, clay and sand in which it is found. Complicated machines havingvibrators and other types of riles have been used. However, none of thedevices now in use are eflicient in their operation and with all of themwork must be suspended whenever the payload is to be removed.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device of thecharacter described which will prevent thieves or dishonest workmen fromremoving the gold-bearing materials and which will allo-vv thecollection of such materials without discontinuing the run.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a section of my improved riiiie,

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the riiile taken on the line 2 2of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a detailed view of the cap, and

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the floor illustrating the trap or lip.

As will be seen by referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows my deviceI0 positioned in a sluice-box Il. The device may be made in sections ofany convenient length, but I have found that sections of approximatelyfour feet are more easily handled. The device Ill is pan-shaped and isprovided with a iloor I2 and walls I3. On the floor I2 are bolted aseries of triangular caps I4 by means of the bolts I 5, While I haveshown the bolts I5, it will be appreciated that any other fasteningmeans may be used and, in fact, the caps I4 may be welded if so desired.The caps I4 are set in alternate rows in staggered relation and withtheir pointed ends on the downstream side. Immediately below the caps I4the floor I2 is depressed to form tables I6, which 1 have shown assemi-circular in shape, although they may be of any other shape. Thefloor immediately behind the table I6 is cut through and bent downwardlyto form a lip or trap I l. Below the floor I2 there is a second pan I8.This second pan Supports the oor I2 and is provided with a series ofbales I9 situated one below each triangular cap. The baflies I9 have araised section 20 which in turn supports the floor I 2.

In operation, the pan I8 is placed in the sluiceboX and the rife I0 isplaced on top of it. The Wall I3 of the rifiie is provided with a hole2| through which a bolt 'may be run through the wall of the sluice-box.l`A padlock may be placed on the end of this bolt in order to preventthe removal of the pan and to hold it securely in the boX.

In the operation of the device, the gangue or run is set into the sluiceover the rilfle I0. The triangular caps I4 are provided with a sharpback 22 and the forward edges 23 are likewise sharp. The peak 24 ispointed. The gangue,v when thrown by the force of the water against thesharp backs 22, is broken down and the forward edges 23 of thepeaks-24cut'upthe clay and break down the gangue, thus freeing the sandand gravel from the clay or other materials. The backs 22, the edges 23and the points 24 thus produce a sawing effect-as the gangue is forcedover and around them. Due to the shape of the triangular caps, a cuttingedge of approximately twice the widthof the riiile is provided. I havefound that the best results are secured by tilting the sluice one inchto the foot, although the angle may be varied in accordance with thetype of gangue to be worked. The caps I4 are staggered so that the watercarrying the gangue is thrown from side to side and the gangue will bebroken down. 'I'he staggering of the caps I4 produces whirlpools andbackeddies behind the open side of the caps and the gold-bearingmaterials, having been shaken and washed loose from the gravel, settleupon the tables I6 and are washed through the trap I'I against thebaflies IB. The bailles I9 still the water to some extent and allow theheavy goldbearing materials to settle against the upstream side of thebales, the water and any light sand that remains passing out over thebaffles.

When it is desired to collect and clean the load, the riie It may beunlocked and lifted out of the sluicebox and a new pan substituted forthe pan I8. It will be seen that in this manner considerable time issaved and that the device is not put out of operation for long periodsof time when it is necessary to collect the gold-bearing material.Moreover, dishonest workmen cannot reach CII the material in the pan I8and the entire device may be left without a watchman.

It will be understood that the caps I4 may be varied in size, shape andweight in accordance With the type of material that is found in theparticular locality in Which the device is to be used. Other obviousvariations may be made to suit varying conditions and materials. It Willbe further understood that, while throughout the specification I havereferred to my device as being used for mining gold, it is equallyadaptable in the mining of all metals.

I claim:

1. A rife or classiiier comprising a receiving pan, baiiles in said pan,a oor situated above said pan, said floor being provided with a seriesof offset peaked members having triangular shaped sides open at theirdown-stream side,l and means under said projections communicating withthe receiving pan.

2. A riiile or classier comprising a receiving pan, a floor above saidpan, triangular sided peaked members, on said oor, said members beingopen on their downstream sides, tables, and traps under said members,said traps communieating with said receiving pan.

3. In a device of the character described, a pan, bailles situated insaid pan, a floor above said pan, depressed tables in said floor, trapscommunicating with said tables and said pan, and triangular sided peakedmembers open at their downstream sides on said floor, over said tablesand traps.

4. Ariiile or classiercomprising a floor, semicircular tables depressedin said floor, traps extending from the straight edge of said tablesthrough said floor, and triangular sided, peaked shaded caps over saidtables, said caps being sharp at their open end.

5. In a device of the character described, a iioor, depressed tables insaid floor, traps communicating with said tables through said i'loor,peaked members having triangular-shaped sides open at their down streamsides on said floor extending over said tables, said peaked membersbeing sharp at the open edges and back thereof.

6. In a device of the character described, a pan, bailles situated insaid pan, a oor above said pan, and a plurality of rows oftriangular-sided, peaked members, each of said rows being in staggeredrelation With the adjoining row, and said peaked members being open attheir down-stream side, traps under said peaked members commu-- nicatingwith said pan.

7. In a device of the character described, a floor, depressed tables insaid door, triangularsided, peak-shaped members removably fastened tosaid oor, above said tables, said triangularsided, peak-shaped membersbeing open at one side and said open sides being sharp.

8. A rile or classier comprising a receiving pan, baffles situated insaid pan, a oor above said pan, depressed tables in said floor, openingsin said iloor communicating with said tables and said pan, a series ofrows of triangular-sided, peak-shaped members open at their down streamside on said floor over said tables and, traps, each of said rows beingranged in staggered relation to the adjacent row.

9.A riiie or classier, comprising a receiving pan, bales situated insaid pan, a floor above said pan, depressed tables in said oor, openingsin said oor communicating with saidtables and said pan, ya series ofrows of triangular-sided, peak-shaped members open at their down streamside on said oor over said tables and traps, said members having cuttingedges at their open ends, each of said rows being ranged in staggeredrelation to the adjacent row.

10. In a rife, having a oor, a plurality of rows of triangular sidedpeaked members open at their downstream side, each of said rows beingoiset with relation to the adjoining rows, a series of depressed tablesunder said peaked members and traps under each peaked member.

JOHN F. GUEST.

